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White House on Fire!
A swashbuckling, seafaring, time-traveling adventure takes First Daughters Marissa and Clara back to the birth of the nation in this new entry in the White House Clubhouse series.
When the clubhouse fills with smoke, Marissa and Clara Suarez escape through one of its doors—and find themselves in James Madison’s presidency, with the White House and capital city set on fire by invading British troops! With an iconic portrait of George Washington in hand, they race through the countryside as the War of 1812 rages all around them. Over rough roads, on sailing ships, and on the ramparts of Baltimore's Fort McHenry, Marissa and Clara help save a young nation (and play a part in writing “The Star-Spangled Banner”) while confronting the contradictions that challenge what it means to be free.
Funny, fast-paced, and filled with wholesome adventure, White House on Fire! continues Sean O’Brien’s exciting middle grade series that “masterfully weaves together history, adventure, and purpose” (Ruby Shamir).
When the clubhouse fills with smoke, Marissa and Clara Suarez escape through one of its doors—and find themselves in James Madison’s presidency, with the White House and capital city set on fire by invading British troops! With an iconic portrait of George Washington in hand, they race through the countryside as the War of 1812 rages all around them. Over rough roads, on sailing ships, and on the ramparts of Baltimore's Fort McHenry, Marissa and Clara help save a young nation (and play a part in writing “The Star-Spangled Banner”) while confronting the contradictions that challenge what it means to be free.
Funny, fast-paced, and filled with wholesome adventure, White House on Fire! continues Sean O’Brien’s exciting middle grade series that “masterfully weaves together history, adventure, and purpose” (Ruby Shamir).
224 pages, Hardcover
Published October 8, 2024
3 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Sean O'Brien
125 books17 followersSean O'Brien is a British poet, critic and playwright. Prizes he has won include the Eric Gregory Award (1979), the Somerset Maugham Award (1984), the Cholmondeley Award (1988), the Forward Poetry Prize (1995, 2001 and 2007) and the T. S. Eliot Prize (2007). He is one of only four poets (the others being Ted Hughes, John Burnside and Jason Allen-Paisant) to have won both the T. S. Eliot Prize and the Forward Poetry Prize for the same collection of poems (The Drowned Book).
Born in London, England, O'Brien grew up in Hull, and was educated at Hymers College and Selwyn College, Cambridge. He has lived since 1990 in Newcastle upon Tyne, where he teaches at the university. He was the Weidenfeld Visiting Professor at St. Anne's College, Oxford, for 2016–17.
Born in London, England, O'Brien grew up in Hull, and was educated at Hymers College and Selwyn College, Cambridge. He has lived since 1990 in Newcastle upon Tyne, where he teaches at the university. He was the Weidenfeld Visiting Professor at St. Anne's College, Oxford, for 2016–17.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 19, 2025
3.5 stars
Sean O’Brien has knocked another one out of the park, with this second book in the “White House Clubhouse” series!
The War of 1812 is the historical event that Clara and Marissa, two White House “First Kids”, become involved in after returning to the secret clubhouse hidden behind the State Dining Room. There are many fascinating details about the burning of the original White House by the British (I got a bit misty-eyed reading that part). As well, the author does an outstanding job of relating the story behind the writing of “The Star Spangled Banner”.
On a personal note: Reading this book had special meaning for me, because I’ve visited Fort McHenry. The original Star Spangled Banner, which is preserved in the Smithsonian Museum of American History in D.C., is an exhibit that I’ve seen many times, and it never ceases to leave me with a feeling of absolute awe.
This book would be a wonderful tool to use in middle-grade classrooms. I really hope the author chooses to continue Marissa and Clara’s adventures!
Sean O’Brien has knocked another one out of the park, with this second book in the “White House Clubhouse” series!
The War of 1812 is the historical event that Clara and Marissa, two White House “First Kids”, become involved in after returning to the secret clubhouse hidden behind the State Dining Room. There are many fascinating details about the burning of the original White House by the British (I got a bit misty-eyed reading that part). As well, the author does an outstanding job of relating the story behind the writing of “The Star Spangled Banner”.
On a personal note: Reading this book had special meaning for me, because I’ve visited Fort McHenry. The original Star Spangled Banner, which is preserved in the Smithsonian Museum of American History in D.C., is an exhibit that I’ve seen many times, and it never ceases to leave me with a feeling of absolute awe.
This book would be a wonderful tool to use in middle-grade classrooms. I really hope the author chooses to continue Marissa and Clara’s adventures!
September 16, 2024
Received a copy from the publisher.
Read with my kid who enjoys history and like the first book of this series. The only complaint I really have is that some of the pages have weird breaks where the dialog doesn't seem finished and a new sentence starts on the next page. I'm not sure if this was a printing error or if it was really set up like that. Also, there are a couple of curse words said by the adults fighting in the war which could turn a few people off from the book.
The good points: I loved the alternate chapters with Clara and Marissa having their own adventures but working towards a common goal. I loved how so much of actual history is put into these adventures, and it gave me an excuse to share "Battle of New Orleans" by Johnny Horton. The characters were well fleshed out and there was only mild discussion of the wounded which I'm grateful for as the cannon shooting was dramatic enough. I felt myself getting emotional reading the part with Francis Scott Key reading his Star Spangled Banner Ode. The moment where Clara was remembering what her Dad told her about how brave she could be was SO good and important. I can see some people complain about the ending and the idea that the Constitution is for ALL people, but I think it's often a forgotten part.
My kid liked the part where they climbed the rigging and all the ship discussions. They really want to know more, so now I have to go find an age appropriate book about the War of 1812. They can't wait for the next book.
Read with my kid who enjoys history and like the first book of this series. The only complaint I really have is that some of the pages have weird breaks where the dialog doesn't seem finished and a new sentence starts on the next page. I'm not sure if this was a printing error or if it was really set up like that. Also, there are a couple of curse words said by the adults fighting in the war which could turn a few people off from the book.
The good points: I loved the alternate chapters with Clara and Marissa having their own adventures but working towards a common goal. I loved how so much of actual history is put into these adventures, and it gave me an excuse to share "Battle of New Orleans" by Johnny Horton. The characters were well fleshed out and there was only mild discussion of the wounded which I'm grateful for as the cannon shooting was dramatic enough. I felt myself getting emotional reading the part with Francis Scott Key reading his Star Spangled Banner Ode. The moment where Clara was remembering what her Dad told her about how brave she could be was SO good and important. I can see some people complain about the ending and the idea that the Constitution is for ALL people, but I think it's often a forgotten part.
My kid liked the part where they climbed the rigging and all the ship discussions. They really want to know more, so now I have to go find an age appropriate book about the War of 1812. They can't wait for the next book.
June 27, 2024
I grew up near Baltimore, or as locals phrase it, Bawlmer Murlyn. I think my very first school field trip was to Fort McHenry. So this one hit hard when, from the very start, the White House kids were on the field that the Ravens play on, there with their mom, the president, to toss the coin for the Navy-Notre Dame game (which does indeed, occasionally play at M&T Bank Stadium instead of at the Naval Academy). Now I know that regionally there should have been a much greater emphasis on the O! in the singing of the national anthem, but how cool would it be to hear it from the field right after a flyover? And then go back home to the White House and the Clubhouse and unexpectedly smell the smoke from when it burned in the War of 1812?
The Pride of Baltimore has my heart. It hit me hard in the 1980s when the replica went down, and I rejoiced with the building of Pride of Baltimore II, which is still in use. This book shows for sure the power of "gave proof through the night that the flag was still there".
The Pride of Baltimore has my heart. It hit me hard in the 1980s when the replica went down, and I rejoiced with the building of Pride of Baltimore II, which is still in use. This book shows for sure the power of "gave proof through the night that the flag was still there".
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews